A command is a term in Baseball to describe how a player can take control over the pitches being thrown. Players with good command can usually control the ball to go wherever and however they want within the strike zone, thus considering it as one of the highest forms of skill and talent in Baseball. Normally, they have good strikes that get to the outside corner, and then the pitch will be sent back to the batter or hitter.
Control vs. Command
Many are confused with the idea of control and command. Control means being able to exhibit talent in throwing a fastball anytime during an at-bat. On the other hand, the command is under the sub-category of control, which means that control and command have to go together to make a good strike. Only a few players have mastered the art of controlling and commanding pitches, such as Mariano Rivera and Mike Mussina. Without control and command, multiple strikeouts will be made and base runners might have unintentional walks.
What Happens if the Player Has Good Command?
Trevor Hoffman is an example of a good pitch commander. While a fastball of 95 mph can't hurt any player, Hoffman's 88 mph fastball would surely make the other team suffer. This is because he has mastered how to control the amount of energy he has to let go while commanding the pitch to elevate the game. With proper command and control, the team will have more capabilities to take over the game and eventually, win it. To improve the player's command, they must target a purpose and make every throw count.
Reasons for Poor Command
There can only be two reasons why players have poor command pitching. First, they might be afraid to challenge the hitters, and second, they simply have poor pitching mechanics. Their self-doubt can be shown through their poor posture or body language. If they want to boost their confidence, they should maintain proper posture. This means keeping his head while motioning faster along the midline. He also has to remember that he should move his body away from the midline for minimal extra movements.
